When you become a blood donor of any sort it means that you are
thinking of someone other than yourself. When the staff at the Western Province Blood
Transfusion Service (WPTS) see someone walking in to donate blood, they are
inspired to make the donor as comfortable as possible.
The WPTS collects more than 165 00 units of blood to improve
the lives of over 390 000 individuals. Donating blood remains a personal choice.
It’s not something you are forced to do, and it might just save the life of someone who
desperately needs it. “In the Western Cape, approximately 800 units of blood
are needed per day to fulfil the needs of local hospitals.
This is an ever-increasing demand, as the
population of the Western Cape is increasing,” says Marlize Mouton, Corporate
Public Relations Officer at WPTS.
More people need to
donate
In South Africa not enough people are donating, although so
many people need it to survive. Patients
might need it if they were involved in a car crash or during a life-threatening
procedure on the operating table. “Research has indicated that although up to
75% of the population in the Western Cape may require blood transfusions in
their lifetime, less than 1.5% are blood donors.
The numbers just don’t add up and that is why
the Western Province Blood Transfusion Service has embarked on a campaign to
register 5 000 new, active blood donors during 2013. Our target for Blood Donor Month alone is 2
000 new, active blood donors,” says Marlize.
One donation can save more than three lives, as blood is
mostly divided into its three main constituent parts, which are red cells,
plasma and platelets.
Health24 visited the WPTS centre in Cape Town to find out
why people donate. This is what they had to say:
Edward Williams:
I work in the health industry and I know the importance of donating. By
donating I am setting the example and not just talking, but doing ... Read more